Green and Herb Teas

La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality is hosting a Tea Blog-a-Thon from March 16 until May 31. She has a different theme for each week and you may participate as much or as little as you like. The theme for the seventh week, April 27 - May 3 is The White, Green, Black, and Herb of Tea: "Tell about your favorite tea. How do you prepare it and serve it? Milk and sugar? Plain? What are some of your best memories of serving or sipping on this tea? Share a picture if you can. Tell the health benefits of the tea(s) you prefer. Where do you purchase your tea? Is there someplace you enjoying purchasing tea from? Who from and where."

I have been taxed with many things lately, and so I am just trying to catch up with my entries to the Tea Blog-a-Thon. So I can give just a brief overview.

Since I avoid caffeine, I drink just herbal and green teas. Also, decaffeinated black teas such as Earl Grey and Constant Comment.

Favorite Teas
Lemon Flavored Green Tea
Cinnamon Flavored Green Tea

From Tea Forte - Ginger tea. Here is the small tin with two infusers.

Health King Gastro Ease Tea – a Chinese tea distributed by Universal Herbs Inc. (HerbsPro.com)

Bigelow teas are found in most supermarkets. Here are the flavors I like:
Mint Medley
Apple Cinnamon
I Love Lemon
Apple Cranberry
Sleepy Time (chamomile)
Orange Spice
Tasty Tangerine
Blueberry Harvest

Serving
I usually serve tea plain and offer a choice of raw sugar, Splenda, Stevia, or honey sticks. (We used to add milk to our tea when I was growing up, but no one asks for it now. )

Memories
For her seventh birthday, I held a tea for my niece/god-daughter. Here is a photo of the kid's table setting in May 1998. She had five kid guests, plus five adults.

When it was time for me to serve tea to the kids, the birthday girl declared, "I don’t like tea!" Immediately, the five young guests each echoed, "I don’t like tea!"
My reply – "Oh but since this is a tea party everyone just has to drink a little bit of tea… Everyone just drink a couple swallows. Then you can have some thing else to drink."
The tea chosen for them was Bigelow Apple Cinnamon.

As they sipped from their cups, one of the kids said, "This is good!" The others nodded and agreed. Soon someone said, "I like this, more tea please." The others said, "More tea, please!"

The kid's table was set in the kitchen. In the dining room the adults took Bigelow Earl Grey decaf.

A few Friday evenings ago my sister, her husband and daughter (now almost 17 years old) were here for supper. It happens that her mom, my sister, does not like tea though her husband makes herb teas at home. As we were talking about tea, my niece/goddaughter now said, "When daddy and I drink tea, I feel all warm and nice…"

It has been great to read the various entries on this week’s topic. Go to Gracious Hospitality to read them.

Thankful Thursday - Inspiration

"Before there can be fullness there must be emptiness.

Before God can fill us with Himself

we must first be emptied of ourselves.’

– A.W. Tozer

Right now I am especially thankful for all the sources of comfort and inspiration which are right at hand. For writing in books and journals, television programs, and people who speak a kind word in season.

My sister called Tuesday night to say that her husband had had an accident resulting in his Achilles heel tendon being severed. He is to have surgery on Tuesday May 20.
Please pray for him and for his family as they work to rearrange their daily routines to deal with his inability to drive, etc.
In spite of the accident, we are thankful that his life was spared. Things could have been much worse.

Be joyful always:…give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1Thess. 5:16,18

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Iris here.

Tea House Visit

La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality is hosting a Tea Blog-a-Thon from March 16 until May 31. She has a different theme for each week and you may participate as much or as little as you like. The theme for the ninth week, May 11 - May 17 is Tea Room Ventures and Venues: "Share all about one of your favorite tea rooms. Use photos and descriptions to tell about the decor and ambiance, menus, service, and what makes this tea room special to you. Does this tea room have a gift shop? What kind of special treasures does it contain?"

Eastern Massachusetts has a number to tea rooms. The closest one to my house is the Colonial Tea House in Clinton.

This tea house is attractive but without frills. It has a basic modern take on colonial décor. Tables for two each have two teacups. No two teacups are alike. Larger round tables hold four to six tea drinkers.

Around the main room are framed pictures of teacups, and various tea items on display which are available for sale. Teapots and tins of tea are also displayed on shelves and are for sale.

I took my mother there for a mid-morning break today as we were returning from a medical appointment. We had a pot of "Lemon Sunset" a tasteful blend of "lemongrass, lemon balm, spearmint and rosehips." My mother really liked the pink and white tea cosy which kept the tea really hot. She had three full cups of the tea. Her scone was cinnamon, while mine was blueberry. Double Devon Cream was a nice accompaniment.

Since it was early, we had the room to ourselves and spent the time pointing out various items of interest around the room.

I took my camera out of my purse to take some photos. However, the panel said "recharge batteries." Was I ever so annoyed! I'll have to go back to get some photos of my own. The ones I've used here are from their website.

The small gift shop has tea cozies, teacups and saucers, teapots, and a variety of gift items. As we were leaving, mymother told the waitress that she will bring her youngest daughter (my Massachusetts sister) and grand daughter to take tea here.

Photos from http://www.colonialteahouse.com/

Dinner for Mother

On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008 I hosted a family dinner in honor of our mother. Travelling an hour and a half over the Massachusetts border, came my brother and his wife and 16-year old son from their home in New Hampshire. From an hour south here in Mass. My sister, her husband 17-yr old daughter and 22-yr old son.

The table was set with a beige tablecloth with lace and hand-painted roses. Here is my mother’s place setting at one end of the table.

The cream and cobalt bone china plates I got in England and the gilt flatware was my mother’s. The flatware coordinated with the gilt edging on the plates and goblets.

A fun item was an Edible Arrangement sent by my sister in Maryland. The fresh fruit were most succulent to nibble on and a delight to look upon.



The dining table centerpiece was quite simple -- light pink roses I placed in a cobalt blue ginger jar, and a silverplated candlestick on either side.

Other flowers were brought by my sister – roses and lilies. We placed them in two of my cream vases.

There were two cakes. The one I provided was vanilla with lemon filling topped with kiwi, strawberries and peaches.


I was only sorry that the cake was too big for my Princess House crystal cake plate cover.

The other cake, brought by my brother and family, was a white cake with buttercream icing topped with a spray of gum paste flowers.

In one corner of the dining room I hung two certificates my mother received in previous years – Grandma of the Year from two grandsons and Mother of the Year from my late brother.

On the nearby table were her cards,

a chocolate 22-cent stamp I gave her in 1990...

and fresh flowers.

In another corner is a small chest on which I placed some pink and white cups and saucers and dessert plates. The cups and plates picked up the rose theme, and were selected by my mother and I. Right at hand were sweeteners for tea – honey sticks, Stevia and Splenda.




The buffet was in the kitchen where everyone filled up his or her plates. A great time was had by all, with lots of eating, drinking, talking and laughing. All in all, a very memorable Mother’s Day. Mother was very happy.

Friday Show and Tell – Vintage Shell Planter

Show and tell Friday is hosted by Kelli at There is No Place Like Home.

For today’s post, I would like to share an item I bought in March from a local consignment shop. It is a vintage planter in form of a double shell. It is in tones of pink with gilt embellishment. On the bottom it is marked "Royal Fenton/[crown mark]/ Genuine/ Fenton Ware/ Staffordshire/ England. Incised in the pottery are the words, "WILTON/ SHELL/ ENGLAND."

I enjoy real sea shells as well as things with shell form or pattern. This planter, or vase, fits with my few pieces of Fitz and Floyd "Oceana" items. I have salt and pepper shakers and a small open container. They are in the living room curio cabinet.

I think I may use the planter as a centerpiece along with the "Oceana" pieces.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my vintage planter. To visit other Show and Tell posts, please go to Kelli’s. Thank you for coming by. Please leave a comment and do come again soon.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for continuing blessings in my life. These include:

Though she is still very forgetful, my mother is speaking very lucidly most of the time. I try to stimulate her interest in various things each day to help her along.

I have been able to make preparations to host the family for Mother’s Day dinner on Sunday here at my home. My brother and his wife and son, and my youngest sister, her husband, son, and daughter will be attending.

Even though I awoke today with seemingly every joint in excruciating pain, I was still able to go out and run important errands. Back home, in between breaks for rest, I was able to prepare lunch for my mother and I and attend to other matters.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks:
You are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
His love endures forever
Psalm 118: 28-28 NIV

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Iris here.

Vintage Thingies Thursday – Lilypad Planter

I am participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday. On her blog Lisa, the Apron Queen gives a comprehensive list of the sorts of vintage items which qualify: Briefly, they include vintage linens and textiles, vintage kitchen items, and vintage sewing items.

Today I will share one of the vintage items I got from my Mother in March. It is a vintage planter or vase in green ceramic. It has two white and green water lilies on a dark watery base. The shape of the vase is a rounded square. The background is a mottled light green. Here are some photos of the planter/vase.



I look forward to using the planter/vase for flowers this summer.

Do visit Confessions of An Apron Queen to see more Vintage Thingies posts.

Vintage Thingies Thursday - Crocheted Apron

I found out from Confessions of an Apron Queen about the Vintage Thingies Thursdays posts.
On her blog The Apron Queen gives a comprehensive list of the sorts of vintage items which qualify: Briefly, they include vintage linens and textiles, vintage kitchen items, and vintage sewing items.

I have been getting various vintage items in the past two months from a consignment shop, two thrift stores, eBay auctions and from my mother. For my post I will share a crochet apron, pictured here on a crocheted clothes hanger.

One of the things that attracted me to the apron was the blue and white. The apron is about 18" long and 28" across at the scalloped hem. The waistband is about 1" high by about 17" wide and the ties are 1" wide by 25.5" long.

I like the patterns of the panels that make up the apron.



Do visit Confessions of an Apron Queen to see more Vintage Thingies posts.

Thankful Thursday - Sure Promises

Today I am especially thankful for the following Scripture promises which provide assurance of God’s sustaining love

Each day as I acknowledge that God leads me by His Word; I am assured of His leading in my life.

"In all thy ways acknowledge him
and he shall direct thy paths"
Proverbs 3:6

Conscious of my neediness in every aspect of my life, I turn to Him for guidance in making decisions.

"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matt. 7:7-8 NIV

In recognition of His pervasive love, I am thrilled to give Him praise:

"Rejoice in the Lord always:

and again I say rejoice!"
Phil. 4:4

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Iris here.